Titled the "Welcome Mat" because it would sit at the entrance to the city's downtown core, the latest proposal for a new Vancouver Art Gallery could include several floors of gallery space, a theatre, cafes and even a bike share hub, according to architect Tony Osborn.Tony Osborn Architects
/ Handout

Titled the "Welcome Mat" because it would sit at the entrance to the city's downtown core, the latest proposal for a new Vancouver Art Gallery could include several floors of gallery space, a theatre, cafes and even a bike share hub, according to architect Tony Osborn.Tony Osborn Architects
/ Handout

Titled the "Welcome Mat" because it would sit at the entrance to the city's downtown core, the latest proposal for a new Vancouver Art Gallery could include several floors of gallery space, a theatre, cafes and even a bike share hub, according to architect Tony Osborn.Tony Osborn Architects
/ Handout

Titled the "Welcome Mat" because it would sit at the entrance to the city's downtown core, the latest proposal for a new Vancouver Art Gallery could include several floors of gallery space, a theatre, cafes and even a bike share hub, according to architect Tony Osborn.Tony Osborn Architects.
/ Handout

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VANCOUVER -- Weeks before Vancouver council is to decide whether to give the Vancouver Art Gallery a prime two-acre piece of downtown property for a new home, a new and glittering alternative has emerged.

If architect Tony Osborn's idea comes to fruition, it would result in an expansive new gallery and public plaza stretching between Seymour and Howe Streets at the north end of the Granville Street Bridge. The proposal, which Osborn said he drafted in order to create public dialogue around the VAG's renewal, would tie into the city's proposal for a pedestrian and bike mall atop the bridge.

"So far in the discussion about the gallery, architecture has been on the back burner, if at all," Osborn said. "We think it is an important voice to contribute. There is no better way to do it than to show what the great potential of this gallery move can be."

Titled the "Welcome Mat" because it would sit at the entrance to the city's downtown core, the gallery he envisages could include several floors of gallery space, a theatre, cafés and even a bike share hub, he said.

The city has plans to remove the two round on- and off-ramps to the bridge. It owns most of the 3.5 acres within the loops, which includes the site of Old Continental Hotel, an aging supportive housing site. Long-term plans call for the site to be used for housing.

Osborn released his proposal on social media Tuesday evening, but did not send it to either the VAG or the city.

"We really wanted to send it directly to Vancouverites, rather than the city and the art gallery, to get them excited about it," he said. "We're now receiving great (public) response."

Kathleen Bartels, the VAG's director, said in an email that she hadn't seen the concept.

The idea is the latest in a number of blue-sky proposals architects and others have promoted as alternatives to the VAG's intention to build a new gallery costing as much as $500 million on the Larwill Park site between Georgia and Dunsmuir streets.

Several weeks ago local architect Michael Green issued his own unsolicited proposal that suggested building four themed galleries around the city, including one called "Blowdown Gallery" in Stanley Park. And, on Wednesday, The Vancouver Sun received an illustrated idea from R. David Osborne Design to build a 200,000 square foot addition to the VAG on its front plaza.

"The art gallery proposal raises important economic, social and cultural issues that would benefit from a broad and in-depth public discussion," David Osborne said in his submission. "While there has been discussions between the city and the gallery, it has been too fragmented and narrowly focused."

Bob Rennie, the art collector and real estate expert, said while he appreciates Tony Osborn Architect's attempt to broaden the dialogue around the VAG, his Granville Bridge loops proposal doesn't really change the argument.

"Everybody wants to talk about the architecture, the site. They want to talk about the box, and not the art," he said. "The question still remains whether we can afford these kinds of structures in a city that doesn't really have the philanthropy to support it."

The VAG has estimated it would cost between $300 million and $400 million to build a new gallery at Larwill Park, not including the value of the city's land.

Rennie, who opposes the VAG's proposal, says that city land value at Larwill Park is more than $200 million, making the new VAG a half-billion dollar idea.

Osborn until recently worked as an intermediate architect for Henriquez Partners Architects. He struck out on his own with another of the firm's former employees,

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